"DIE, YOU BASTAAAARD!"

Kenpachi rolled his eyes as his san-seki ripped through a hollow a bit too enthusiastically. Sure, he was showing proper Eleventh-division spirit, but it was a little over dramatic. He would have to tell him later to stop fighting with his shirt off, and maybe to knock off that stupid yellin'. Ah well, you couldn't really tell he was shirtless anymore, what with the way he was drenched in his own blood. His skin was hardly visible at this point.

Now that he thought on it, Ikkaku always started out with his uniform intact... Truth be told, their division had by far the largest laundry bill: larger than all the other divisions combined and then some. Kenpachi scratched at the base of his neck. Why would that be?

He'd have to put in a word with the Sou-taichou about armor. He cocked his head to the side, surveying the fighting Eleventh-squad, wondering why no one had thought of that before. Dishonorable maybe?

'Eh, same as that 'no-kidou-allowed' shit. Who gives a fuck. Strong is strong.' Still though, what's with the no-armor policy? It's not like the samurai hadn't had armor...

'Screw honor if it makes the fights lame. It sucks ta' be dead..' He grimaced. 'Or is that double-dead? Whatever, you can't fight or drink once ya' get killed.'

Ikkaku Madarame let out another cry, "Nobiro, Hozukimaru!", as he extended his zanpakutou into its yari form.

"Idiot bastard sunuvabitch," Kenpachi mumbled to himself as Ikkaku slammed his blade down into the mask of the large hollow he was fighting.

Zaraki grinned in spite of himself though as he caught sight of the mad smile stuck on Madarame's face. Even when his body was one gigantic cut, he still managed to enjoy himself, grin reaching almost to his ears. Madarame was a man after his own heart, and would probably end up giving him a run for his money one of these days.

"Dumb shit."

"Go, go, Pachinko-head!" Yachiru giggled, zipping in and out of the lower ranked Eleventh squad members, making a jagged trail to Kenpachi. Kenpachi immediately began to fight better with her familiar weight on his shoulders.

"Sakero, Hozukimaru!" Ikkaku shouted, laughing as his yari split into three pieces and tore through the neck of a hollow-underling with a lethal slice.

"Ikkaku, pay attention!" Yumichika called to him, shihakusho whirling around him as Fuji Kujaku raked through a low-ranked hollow's face. The fifth-seat jumped deftly over the spiny tail that had been whipped at his legs. It was amazing how well his hair stayed in place, and had anyone bothered to look, they would've seen a sick pleasure glittering in Yumichika's eyes, which found beauty even in battle.

Ikkaku spat on the ground, wiping blood from his eye with his wrist. Then he cracked his neck, muscles in his bare back flexing in a way that Yumichika thought was just wonderfully masculine. Yep, he was still gay. "Hah! Shut up, Yumi, I'm paying attention just fine-"

"Look out, Ikkaku!" Yumichika screeched, looking like he had barely stopped himself from whipping around and pointing wildly like a child. An Arrancar crept up behind Ikkaku, sword drawn. Ikkaku swore at Yumichika harshly, telling him to quit being so concerned.

"Look out, yourself, Chika, Chika!" Yachiru called from her place on her Ken-chan's back, sounding all too happy as the Arrancar advanced on them both. She rested her chin on her little hands, grinning widely at the pair of them. The other squad member's still couldn't tell who was more bloodthirsty: their Captain, or their Vice Captain.

"Ey' you guys, Kuchiki's callin' us to the west end. Go-seki n' san-seki, stay here and keep the perimeter secure till I get back," Kenpachi shouted at the two, "and don't you dare lose! That's an order!"

"Hai, Taichou!" Yumichika ran his fingers through his hair, wiping black blood from his zanpakutou's blades onto the grass.

"You got it!" Ikkaku scratched at a minor wound, ignoring the rest of his gashes. He didn't take his slitted eyes off of the Arrancar, which hadn't moved from the other side of the clearing after it had first been spotted.

Zaraki shouted to the rest of the still-fighting Eleventh squad, "Alright you lot, with me- We're escortin' the Fourth squad healers over to Byakuya-'hime-sama'. When we get over there, pick two or three of them and follow Yachiru and me. If they get any injuries, yull' be gettin' a matching set from me. Get it?"

Just to make sure the message got through, he threw in another shouted command for good measure, "Under no circumstances should a scratch come to any of the squirts, understood? Not one scratch."

Kenpachi had gained a strange sort of respect for the Fourth Division after Ichigo had busted in and made friends with Hanatarou; the older squad members had even gone so far as to term the abrupt change in demeanor as 'hell week'. The Eleventh division quickly made the connection between the strenuous training sessions that the captain put on every time a fourth-squad member was found beaten up.

Everyone knew that Kenpachi would always side with Ichigo on anything. Ichigo might not know it, what with the way Zaraki tried to kill him every time they met, but some even thought that Zaraki considered them friends, best friends. It took a hell of a lot to gain that kind of respect from the Demon of the Rukongai, and the ryoka had done it without even trying.

Of course Zaraki's respect was his squad's respect as well, and although they didn't quite understand it, they quickly adapted, and cut back on the amount of punches they threw towards the little pipsqueaks.

Still, Kenpachi went on, knowing how hard-headed these guys could be. He did admit that it was kind of weird to do a one-eighty turn-around like that, so he made it crystal clear for them.

"You are to make yourself into a bodyshield if you have to. Not a single fucking hit to any of 'em or I'll kill ya' myself. Got it?" 'Kill ya' myself' usually meant, toilet duty for a month, probably after getting your head shoved into the toilet. Not to mention extra training.

"Hai, Taichou!" the rest of the squad shouted, quickly departing when their Captain turned and jetted away with shunpo.

Yumichika and Ikkaku were rather bewildered when the remaining hollows they were fighting were abruptly blown to pieces by a large blast of unfamiliar reiatsu.

Every hollow in the clearing burst into clouds of dust, blood, and various body parts, and suddenly the forest was empty and quiet, save for the distant sounds of battle. On the other edge of the trees stood the Arrancar, who drew his energy back in, finally moving towards them a few steps.

"Annoying aren't they? Heh." The hairs on Yumichika's neck stood up. He knew immediately that something was wrong.

'That voice...'

"It seems that I've got you two alone now... Your comrades left at the perfect moment," the Arrancar said quietly, a small smile twisting his lip. He wasn't very big, taking the appearance of a young man with shoulder-length black hair and a mask that hid both his eyes from sight. The mask itself had horns and rather reminded Yumichika of a kabuki. His visible skin was as white as his uniform, and he had very spidery fingers. "What luck..." He clucked the 'K' sound, eyeing Ikkaku suggestively. He turned his face to one side, baring his paper white jaw.

Ikkaku stiffened, going eerily quiet. Yumichika tucked his chin down, as creeped out as his long-time friend.

'How does he know?... How does he know about Ikkaku's lucky dance? No, no, it must be a coincidence. That's the only explanation... Still, it's rather chilling.'

The moment he drew his attention back, it started talking again, as if it knew it had an audience. "Yes, very lucky... I hardly had to do a thing to get you alone." He gave another small smile, seeming to be amused. Yumichika got the distinct expression that he had been the one to sabotage Kuchiki-Taichou's forces.

Dark shadows flitted down the Arrancar's face, giving the appearance of long dark furrows in his cheeks, rather like Urahara's racoon eyes but so much more unsettling. Something glittered under his horned mask... something sinister.

"But you are alone all the same..."

Yumichika shifted onto his right foot nervously and then back to the left. He didn't like the sound of that voice; not at all. Sure, it was quiet and gentle, but it was oily and slimy, making him feel ill at ease. He edged closer to Ikkaku until he was right next to him. Next to Ikkaku he felt competent, confident, and protected, because even though Madarame was bleeding profusely from his many wounds and was panting heavily, he was still grinning...

Grinning like there wasn't a chance that he would die today.

"'M not sure I like that..." Ikkaku nudged Yumichika behind him with his shoulder, still grinning, never removing his eyes from the Arrancar. He flexed his arms in preperation, tightening his grip on Hozukimaru. Yumichika backed away as Ikkaku lowered in a battle stance, widening his feet.

Yes, he would let Ikkaku have this enemy. Ikkaku hadn't acknowledged aloud that he wanted this one for himself, but Yumichika knew without being told at this point. Usually he was content in letting Ikkaku have his fun, but this time his gut tightened up, telling him to do something to stop them.

He had a bad feeling about this... a very bad feeling. He half-raised a hand to Ikkaku's back, wanting to...

He didn't know what he wanted.

Yumichika snatched his free hand back to his chest just before he touched Ikkaku's shoulder. The third seat moved Yumichika fully behind him with his arm, still panting and sweating from exertion. Maybe Ikkaku could also sense that this wouldn't be a normal fight, but still, he didn't seem to want to back down.

"Ikkaku, maybe we-" Yumichika's voice died in his throat. He didn't know if Ikkaku could win this fight, but he knew better than to offer help. Urging Ikkaku to be cautious would just make him sound as if he were doubting his abilities. He wanted to warn Ikkaku... but what of? He wanted to turn back, but why?

"Stay back, Yumi," Ikkaku mumbled, a strange sound to his voice, something Yumichika had only heard a few times.

His heart clenched for a moment as Ikkaku moved in front of him, shielding him from view with his heaving bloody chest. Guilt and regret welled up inside him for the millionth time.

"Aren't you going to start talking? You Arrancar types always like to boast about your abilities. Unbeautiful if you ask me," Yumichika spoke with a confidence that he didn't feel.

"Oh no... I don't have much to say." The Arrancar tipped his head to Yumichika. "I have no name or number." He smiled, going on a little, "I existed long before the late Aizen-sama rose to power... You could say I'm... an exception." He rolled his head about on his shoulders. "Specialll..."

"Heh, Not interested anyway." Ikkaku smirked, finally having caught his breath. "I don't care about who ya' are, or what ya' can do. I just care about beatin' ya'."

The Arrancar immediately gave a dark laugh.

"Hmm, I see. Well, there's no point giving a monologue then, is there? We can get started right away... What is it that you fear?" Yumichika froze up; that voice was like slime, climbing up and down his spine like horrible spiders. "Your greatest fear?"

He began to feel vaguely ill, right in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong. They needed to get out of here.

This wasn't a normal Arrancar.

His hand immediately went to his pocket, feeling for his denrei shinki. Part of him thought of calling for backup, but most of him was stuck in the moment, staring back at that creep.

"I don't fear anythin'," Ikkaku said confidently with a laugh, all too obviously thinking of methods of pain and other forms of violence, disgusting bugs, or embarrassing scenarios, none of which he was afraid of. Yumichika shook his head mournfully. His wonderfully simple friend... No secrets, no guilt... Everything was always so simple.

'Ikkaku, There are things so much worse than that... You fight, but you don't know real pain, do you?'

"Now, fight me!"

Yumichika shook his head with an exasperated smile. Not everything could be solved with a fight, and Ikkaku still hadn't learned that.

"Hmm," the thing laughed. "Oh, my dear. Everyone fears something, even if they aren't aware of it. It doesn't have to be something you actively avoid, just something that would scare you horribly were it to happen... Now why don't you tell me what it is? It'll be our secret." He tilted his head to the side, eyes hidden beneath the shade of his mask.

"Teme! Fight me, already." Ikkaku brandished Hozukimaru, beginning to circle the enemy like a shark.

"I don't think I will... I'm interested now." A white hand with long nails slid over the painted blade it held, running its thumb along the bright edge. It looked like a sashimi knife with a sword's handle. "Tell me your deepest fear, so that I may grant you it... My dear." He gave the tiniest smirk.

"Fuck o-"

It happened quicker than lightning.

The young man had Ikkaku on his back, foot planted on his chest. His appearance was deceiving. He looked light, but his foot had dug Ikkaku down into the solid dirt by at least two inches, and he was continuing to sink. It didn't look like the guy was pressing very hard at all, but Ikkaku's breath still rattled in his chest from strain.

Yumichika gasped, hand tensing on the grip of his sword, but still he knew better than to interfere. Ikkaku would never let it go if he ever got involved in his battles, and he had to respect that. He would respect that, at least until it came to the point of Ikkaku's certain death.

Yumichika remembered Ikkaku's battle against Zaraki back in the Rukongai and the fight with Poww at fake Karakura, and his heart shook in fear. He knew he wouldn't be able to hear his best friend ask for death again. He knew that if it came to that, if it came to Ikkaku being defeated, he wouldn't be able to sit idly by this time. He would save him, even at the cost of their friendship.

Even at the cost of his own life.

Ikkaku whipped his sword up to block the oncoming blade just in time. The san-seki's arm was straining under the force, but the Arrancar looked bored and disappointed, as he obviously had to put in almost no effort to keep his blade in place.

Ikkaku grunted, throwing up his other arm to keep the crossed blades from coming towards his chest. The Arrancar tilted its head forward, grinning sassily. "Naaaa, if you keep sliding them around like that, you'll scratch the paint, my dear."

"Uru...sai!" Sweat was beading on Ikkaku's already drenched forehead. Yumichika bounced anxiously on the balls of his feet.

"Hmm-" That little laugh he kept giving was hitting Yumichika harder every time. It was as intimidating as Zaraki Kenpachi's, as sinister as Kurotsuchi Mayuri's, and as unsettling as Ichimaru Gin's. It didn't seem like it was phasing Ikkaku more than annoyance, but it was leaving Yumichika deeply shaken. He felt as though the man were laughing over their corpses.

"Here we are... Let me see you." The young man leaned forward, leaving their arms in the same place. He reached his free hand over his head from the very top.

He curled his fingers around the spined visor he was wearing to cover his eyes and pulled it up, revealing horrible blank yellow eyes- No, they couldn't even really be called eyes. There were no whites or pupils; just blank yellow orbs. "Let me see insiiiide..." The eyes rotated one hundred and eight degrees in their sockets, revealing a large black hole that kept spinning into view over and over as the eyes kept rolling.

After Yumichika's stomach had twisted itself into a knot, the eyes stopped sharply:, leaving them looking like glowing yellow beams.

Yumichika was absolutely horrified, watching as Ikkaku's arm was suddenly forced down by a few inches. This had turned against his best friend the moment those glowing eyes had made contact. Ikkaku was no longer wearing a determined expression; he looked absolutely terrified, mouth open, eyes wide and panicked.

The fifth seat glanced back and forth between Ikkaku and those horrible eyes, the two rapidly coming closer together as Ikkaku's arm shook under the pressure. He couldn't see what Ikkaku was seeing, what was scaring his normally brave best friend so badly and keeping him from moving.

The sides of the enemy's mouth cracked and extended almost off his cheeks in a terrifying smile as the blank eyes stared directly at the san-seki beneath him. Ikkaku had frozen up and was shaking horribly, unable to tear his gaze away.

That grin didn't stop growing; it just kept getting bigger and more amused. "Oh... Oh, really?... How disappointing. Someone like you holds that as their greatest fear? I was expecting something so much more... spectacular. This is just... pathetic, really-"

The Ikkaku that Yumichika knew would never stand for someone to call him pathetic.

Ikkaku did not snap out of it like Yumichika expected him to. He didn't blink and slam his sword upwards in response to the insult. He just shook beneath him, eyes as wide as the yellow ones staring down at him. The go-seki had never seen his friend so afraid. For Ikkaku to be this scared, there had to be something wrong. The Arrancar was cheating; it wasn't fighting honorably.

Yumichika's shoulders shook with rage and fear, and finally he couldn't control himself any longer. He would rather Ikkaku be angry with him for eternity than continue to look so helpless there, to stay with that expression of utter terror.

The whimper that loosed itself from Ikkaku as the foot on his chest bore down harder caused something to break loose inside of Yumichika, and suddenly his self control was gone. Screw letting Ikkaku fight his own battles.

"Stop it!" Yumichika screamed, whipping Fuji Kujaku at the Arrancar's exposed back, vocalizing his rage. To his dismay, he was already gone, all the way back near the edge of the trees. He was just standing there, head down, shoulders shaking.

As Yumichika helped the disoriented entranced Ikkaku to his feet, he realized that the Arrancar was laughing. It was horrible, hysterical, mad laughter, and the more he laughed, the more his spirit energy grew, until it was taller than the trees, frying a large circle of grass around the place where he was standing. The reiatsu formed into an unsteady vortex, reaching higher and higher until finally the sky itself seemed to crack and split apart above them. Lightning spread out in all directions. The Arrancar's mask extended into twisted horns, and his teeth sharpened and grew in length; He was horrible.

"Hmm-" A gentle laugh was heard, and the Arrancar raised his hand to his mouth and whispered; Somehow Yumichika and Ikkaku both heard it like it was spoken directly into their ears, "Akumu no Kuro."

Thin black lips blew into the hand, almost like they were blowing a kiss. Dark dust flew into the air and hung there, like paint in water, swirling and twisting and forming itself into a human shape.

"Yume wo mite..."

Yumichika could no longer ignore the way Ikkaku was shaking; horrible, weak, helpless shaking. His mouth was open, and his eyes were wide and were glued to the swirling dust. Yumichika laid a tentative hand on his friend's shoulder, but he wasn't acknowledged.

Ikkaku was in his own world.

The smoke formed from the bottom up, the familiar feet and uniform of a shinigami wisping into being as it walked. It built itself upwards, the familiar orange arm guard and collar, the familiar face blooming before Ikkaku's blank eyes.

It was a doll, a life-sized doll that moved and breathed, as beautiful as the real thing, and it was looking imploringly at Ikkaku.

It walked towards Ikkaku with an outstretched hand, eyes wide. Its lips moved, and Ikkaku crumpled, knees buckling. Air passed through its open mouth, mouthing words that Yumichika couldn't hear.

Yumichika wasn't very good at lip-reading, but he knew that Ikkaku could hear whatever the doll was saying.

"Naite," was whispered by the Arrancar. Immediately the doll shook its head, a panicked look coming over it as a tear rolled down its cheek. A tortured breath left Ikkaku. He looked absolutely devastated, watching the tear fall as he raised his hand like he wanted to stop it and wipe it off.

"Hm," the Arrancar laughed, before whispering, "Scream... Hikyuu."

He grinned wickedly and stabbed the tip of his sword into Yumichika's doll-self, shoving it wetly through bone and flesh through its back and out the chest. He didn't stop there, still slamming the blade down until the body was pinned to the ground on the other side, forced to kneel.

Air left the body as its arms lifted, scrabbling at its bleeding chest in slow sluggish motion, gripping weakly at the thick painted blade sticking it to the ground. Its face was a mask of horror, tears slicking its cheeks. The Arrancar's foot slammed down on the doll's shoulder, forcing the blade to shred its flesh.

"Scream, my dear." The blade twisted, and the doll stilled, head flopping forward limply.

And Ikkaku fell to his knees, Hozukimaru dropping with a clang as his arms shook uncontrollably. Trembling fingers were held to his face, breath coming through them shakily for a moment. Then he screamed into his hands in absolute agony, unable to close his eyes to Yumichika's dead bleeding body.

After taking another audibly shaky breath, Ikkaku screamed louder and didn't stop.

Yumichika stood there, not knowing what to do, heart thumping like crazy in his chest. In fact, he had never been at more of a loss. He didn't know what he was watching exactly.

He was getting scared. He'd never heard Ikkaku scream like that. Battle cries were so much different than these pained and desperate cries.

The Arrancar seemed to fade from his vision as he watched Ikkaku crawl forwards, struggling to pull the sword from the doll's bleeding chest with shaking arms and drop it to the side.

That horrible smile kept growing as the Eleventh squad's third seat took the limp form into his arms and held it to his chest, wrapping his whole body around it.

Ikkaku was muttering hysterically and checking the doll's body all over, hands fluttering over the gigantic hole in its chest. Blood was covering his hands.

"You're gonna be okay. We'll get you a doctor and you'll be all right. Stay with me." His voice rose hysterically the longer he talked, growing more and more choked.

Yumichika knelt close to Ikkaku's shaking form as he tucked the doll's face into his neck and rubbed its back. Yumichika had never been touched like that by Ikkaku before, and he wondered if Ikkaku would truly react in such a way to his death.

He set his hand on Ikkaku's shoulder, patting slightly, looking at him closely.

'Does he know I'm here?'

"Please, Taichou will be here soon and we'll get you a healer, just don't give up on me, Yumi. Please stay awake, don't leave me, you have to fight. Please, please, just until the fourth gets here. I'll fix you up, and you'll be okay, you'll see, it'll all be fine-"

"SHUT UP!" That smile was manic as his voice finally lost its calm soft composure. "He's dead, don't you see?!"

"NOO!" Ikkaku shrieked, body jerking. He shook the corpse once by the upper arms before hugging it tightly around the middle, burying his face in its shoulder. He kept screaming and wailing hysterically, begging Yumichika to open his eyes.

"Ugoke."

The doll jerked in Ikkaku's arms, rising, blood still spilling from its chest. Its eyes were yellow, and they were trapping Ikkaku to it. Its head snapped backwards with a sharp crack, rolling about on its shoulders, coming back up with the most hideous, horrific smile Yumichika had ever seen.

Its sharp nails grasped Ikkaku's throat and squeezed. "Speak," the Arrancar ordered, and the doll obeyed, coming close to Ikkaku's.

With Yumichika's voice it said softly but cruelly, "What good is your strength if you couldn't save me?"

That was the moment the go-seki knew that Ikkaku was breaking inside, because the light left his eyes and his horror turned to despair.

"I'm dead... Why am I dead, Ikkaku? Is it your fault? I think so."

As Yumichika watched, the doll's smile unzipped, body crumpling, revealing an Adjuchas that was much too large to have fit in that body without the aid of some foul magic.

He blinked, as if coming out of a trance. Ruri'iro Kujaku was shouting irritably in his ear, flustered with concern. Yumichika cursed himself; He should've attacked the Arrancar while he had the chance. Why? Why hadn't he moved?!

There was a spiked shell and snapping fangs, long sharp tentacles that were waving wildly. It was a white dragon with a deep voice. On the front-most spike , the doll's body was speared, flopping limply, eyes closed.

Ikkaku stood there, blinking up at the monster towering over him. Reiatsu blasted over the clearing, causing leaves to whip wildly around Ikkaku's still form, rustling Yumichika's hair around his face.

Yumichika stumbled back as he heard something he never would have expected. Ikkaku guarded his secret carefully and would never risk having it revealed to anyone important, not with the other squads fighting near them. He would never reveal it, no matter what, right? He wouldn't let his secret slip for his sake, would he?

Ikkaku seemed terribly small as the huge hollow shrieked and continued to grow further upwards into the sky. The doll, charged with the massive reiatsu, opened it eyes, which were wide and yellow. Blood bubbled from its mouth.

"BANKAIII!"

Yumichika never wanted to hear Ikkaku's voice crack like that ever again.